Love Your Neighbor s1

Love Your Neighbor

Introduction:

Jesus taught a great lesson about love when He answered a question posed by a Pharisee. (Matthew 22:34-40) But what does loving my neighbor look like? An Old Testament passage helps us see what it looks like.

Text: Leviticus 19:9-18

I. Provide for Their Needs (Verses 9-10)  Helping our neighbor means providing for their necessities while not making them feel like it’s a handout. (Deuteronomy 24:19-22, Matthew 6:1-4) (Boaz and Ruth – Ruth 2)

II. Be Honest with Your Neighbor (Verses 11-14)  Honesty is a requirement of loving your neighbor. (Leviticus 6:1-5) There is a need to repair a breach.  Honesty is a characteristic of a new man. (Colossians 3:9-10, Ephesians 5:25)  Never take something from your neighbor that doesn’t belong to you. Remember King Ahab taking his neighbor Naboth’s vineyard. (I Kings 21)  Be a neighbor with integrity. Keep your promises. (Numbers 30:1-2)  Do not delay in paying what you owe. (Deuteronomy 24:14-15, James 5:4)  Do not take advantage of your neighbor. (Deuteronomy 27:18)

III. Be Just and Fair (Verses 15-16)  Practice justice. (Exodus 23:1-3, Deuteronomy 1:17, Deuteronomy 16:19-20) All are of equal worth. (James 2:8-9)  False charges and slander (Exodus 23:6-8, Proverbs 20:19)  Example: Stephen (Acts 6:11-14)

IV. Desire What’s Best for Your Neighbor  Hateful thoughts can lead to hateful actions. (I John 2:9-11, Proverbs 27:19)  “Reason frankly.” (Proverbs 27:5-6) Be open and honest.  Do not be involved in vengeance business. (Proverbs 20:22, Romans 12:17-19)

Conclusion:

The royal law: James 2:8 Bobby Stafford October 7, 2012